Requirements - Details

Students are asked to keep a journal of all the seminars and field trips that they get to see. Students hand in their journal entries after each large group seminar so that BCQ can get input from students and to make sure that students are keeping up with the course. At the end of the semester, a satisfactory grade is awarded to all students that have had no more than 2 absences and have complete journals.

Attendance

Missing more than 2 classes will result in an unsatisfactory grade unless there are extreme circumstances which you can document (such as with a doctor's note, etc.). Missed classes can be made up by attending a large or small group class from the other section, attending a large group weekend field trip, or conducting a brief interview with a faculty member. All of these make-up activities must also be accompanied by a 2-page, typed journal entry. If you choose not to make up a particular absence, you will still need to write a make-up journal entry for the missed day (see your student coordinator for details).

Journals

Journal entries are handed in to your student leaders in the SES Rotunda every other week after each large group seminar. Failure to turn your journals on time without prior notification will result in having to write more for the late entries. All journal entries should be typed (double-spaced, 12 point font, 1-inch margins) and at least 1 page long (with the exception of make-up journal entries which are 2 pages). Journal entries should include your name, date, student leader, & name of speaker/activity at the top of page (single-spaced) and should be kept in a binder or folder. Student leaders and coordinators reserve the right to have students rewrite shoddy or copied journal entries. Furthermore, all journals are reviewed by the student coordinators and faculty advisors at the end of the semester so be sure to keep everything you write.

Journal Content

Small Group Journal Entries

1. In the first paragraph, briefly describe the activity

• Include biological concepts presented, research objectives
• What is the purpose of the research? What do they hope to learn?
• How might this be useful?

2. Give your own personal thoughts - show that you got something out of the activity

• What kind of questions did it raise (both in class and to you)? How did it affect your views? What is your personal reaction?
• What did you find interesting about this subject and why?
• Would you recommend this activity/speaker in the future? Why or why not?
• If you did not find it interesting, how could it have been improved?

Large Group Journal Entries

1. Before you come to the large groups you should already have some potential questions written down about the topic (you will be told beforehand the topics of the large groups so that you can anticipate what kind of questions you should be writing down). The purpose of having pre-formulated questions is so that you will already have questions to ask to keep the class involved.

2. Large group journal entries should follow the same structure as small group journal entries.

1. You will need to fill out an Honors Agreement Form in accordance with the Honors College rules and deadlines. Simply designate BioS 196 - Biology Colloquium as your activity and have it signed by one of the faculty advisors. Don't forget to include the appropriate call number for your section.

2. In addition to your journal entries for the course, you will also need to submit an additional paper at the end of the semester. You can choose one of 2 options for this paper:

• Meet with a professor to discuss his/her current research and write a 2-3 page paper highlighting what you have learned

or…

• Participate in the Biology Colloquium's independent research program and write a report describing your own research. See the independent research page for more details.